Galliano Vanilla liqueur

Product of: Italy

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This 30% alc./vol. vanilla-influenced version of Galliano was created in the 1990's, and although very different to the original 'L'Autentico' Galliano, it is the flavour profile many modern drinkers associate with the brand.

First launched in 1896, over the years Galliano has changed hands, and along the way a few of these owners tweaked the recipe in an attempt to make the brand more appealing, firstly in 1928 when green anise and vanilla beans were added. Then the strength was lowered to 35% in the 1970s, and again in the 1990s, when it dropped to 30% and large quantities of vanilla flavouring were added (in place of natural vanilla).

Galliano enjoyed something of a heyday in the 1970s, but sales declined from the 1980s onwards until the then newly independent company of Lucas Bols in Amsterdam purchased the brand in 2006 from the French Remy Cointreau group. Bols set about reproducing Galliano according to its original recipe and added the word 'L'Autentico' to the brand's name to reflect its return to the original recipe and strength. By 2009, in the UK and USA, this previously ubiquitous vanilla version had all but disappeared after being removed from the market as the brand went "back to its roots".

However, due to popular demand, this lower-strength vanilla version was quickly returned to the UK and USA, where it now sits alongside the original recipe (L'Authentico). In other countries, this vanilla version dominates, with the original 'L'Autentico' Galliano either unavailable or only via niche distributors.

The iconic bottle remains the same shape across the range and the world.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 30/05/2014

Appearance:

Clear, golden yellow.

Aroma:

Reminiscent of vanilla and Tic-Tac peppermint sweets with toffee notes.

Taste:

Slightly syrupy, peppermint leads with smoothing creamy vanilla, sweet liquorice and herbal notes.

Aftertaste:

Freshly ground black pepper emerges and cuts through the syrup with lingering vanilla ice-cream, refreshing spicy peppermint and a touch of aniseed.

Overall:

This vanilla version of Galliano has more mass market appeal and is distinctly easier than Galliano L'Authentico, but a complex liqueur nonetheless. A great after dinner drink.